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2nd LD: S. Korean president names ruling party floor leader as new PM

Xinhua, January 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday named the ruling Saenuri Party floor leader Lee One-koo as new prime minister, her presidential office said.

Lee was nominated to replace Prime Minister Chung Hon-won, who submitted his resignation last year to assume responsibility for a deadly ferry disaster in mid-April that left more than 300 people dead or missing.

Presidential press secretary Yoon Doo-hyun told reporters that Park accepted Chung's willingness to step down after his repeated calls for resignation as annual reports by ministries to the president were wrapped up.

Yoon said communications between the presidential office and the ruling party would be very important as the government was pushing for economic and national innovation, adding that Lee had a deep understanding over Park's philosophy as the ruling party floor leader.

Lee, 64, is required to receive an approval from the parliament, where the ruling party commands a majority. It was President Park' s third attempt to replace the prime minister after her two nominees withdrew their candidacy last year over controversy of personal issues.

The replacement came amid growing public anger against the Park administration over a political scandal and the higher tax burden for middle-income bracket.

A former aide to President Park when she was a lawmaker was suspected of intervening in state affairs though he has no official position in government, sparking worries about a heavyweight wielding power behind the scene.

The revised tax code raised tax burden for wage earners, especially middle-class workers, fueling dissatisfaction with the Park government along with an 80-percent hike in tobacco prices that weighed down on living expenses of low-income earners.

Park's approval rating fell below 40 percent, the lowest since she took office in February 2013.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon would remain in office for the time being despite calls from opposition lawmakers for his resignation.

Three other presidential aides, suspected of being involved in the political scandal, are to face changes in tasks at the presidential office. Endi